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[Robert Taylor]

In Version 9.1.226, how does one go about playing a DVD?

I have PowerDVD XP installed, but when I double-click the DVD icon under "CD, DVD, & Handhelds" in the tree, I get the following error message dialog



This happens for each Title on the DVD. After acknowledging each, I then get this dialog



What are the tricks to getting DVD playback working?

[xen-uno]

Your not alone, I haven't been able to play DVD's thru MC in any build. I also have PowerDVD (flawless playback thru it) and a ext Sony DRU 500ULX. I get the same errors here. Maybe MC is able to interface with WinDVD better (so it is probably d). ?

10^-27

[phelt]

Same for me - never been able to play a DVD in MC, only use PowerDVD, no probs with PowerDVD playback.

[dingoBaby]

I was able to play a dvd one time, with MC.  

Unfortunatly I have been unable to do so since and I cannont figure out what I did to make it stop working.

[Mike Noe]

I just got a Sony DVD RW today and it came with PowerDVD XP 4.0 and it's working somewhat.  There are some artifacts here and there and I need to spend more time with it.

Question:  Does MC simply piggyback on the installed DVD playback engine(s) (audio/video)?

Media Center Registered 9.1.228 -- C:\Program Files\J River\Media Jukebox\

Microsoft Windows XP  Workstation 5.1 Service Pack 1 (Build 2600)
Intel Pentium III 448 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 261 MB, Free - 65 MB

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82 (xpsp1.020828-1920) / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920) / Shell32.dll: 6.00.2800.1233 (xpsp2.030604-1804) / wnaspi32.dll: Internal ASPI Layer

Ripping /   Drive E:   Copy mode:ModeSecure   CD Type:Auto   Read speed:Max
 Digital playback: Yes /  Use YADB: Yes /  Get cover art: No /  Calc replay gain: No /  Copy volume: 32767
 Eject after ripping: Yes /  Play sound after ripping: No  

Burning /  Drive E: SONY     DVD RW DRU-510A    Addr: 1:0:0  Speed:24  MaxSpeed:24  BurnProof:Yes
 Test mode: No /  Eject after writing: Yes /  Direct decoding: Yes /  Write CD-Text: Yes
 Use playback settings: No /  Normalization: None

[JeffB]

DVD playback didn't work for me in .226 and the few builds before, but it works now in .228.  Try installing the latest beta and see if that works.

Media Center Registered 9.1.228 -- D:\Media Center\

Microsoft Windows XP  Workstation 5.1 Service Pack 1 (Build 2600)
Intel Pentium 4 1817 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 523 MB, Free - 293 MB

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82 (xpsp1.020828-1920) / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920) / Shell32.dll: 6.00.2800.1145 (xpsp2.021108-1929) / wnaspi32.dll: N/A
Ripping /   Drive G:   Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer   CD Type:Auto   Read speed:Max
 Drive H:   Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer   CD Type:Auto   Read speed:Max
 Digital playback: Yes /  Use YADB: Yes /  Get cover art: No /  Calc replay gain: Yes /  Copy volume: 32767
 Eject after ripping: No /  Play sound after ripping: No  

Burning /  Drive G: LITE-ON  LTR-32123S         Addr: 0:0:0  Speed:32  MaxSpeed:32  BurnProof:Yes
 Test mode: No /  Eject after writing: Yes /  Direct decoding: Yes /  Write CD-Text: No
 Use playback settings: No /  Normalization: None

[JimH]

DVD playback didn't work for me in .226 and the few builds before, but it works now in .228.  

The same for me.

[xen-uno]

No change here...not working in B228. Upon DVD insertion, PowerDVD always starts up (which I then close). I wonder if the resources used by P-DVD may not be released when it is closed, which then prevents MC from using them.

10^-27

[JimH]

That could be the problem.  Try changing settings in PowerDVD so it doesn't start automatically.  Also check the settings in MC under CD, DVD.  Play on insert can be set there.

[xen-uno]

No dice, Jim.

P-DVD autoplay was disabled, MC was set at DVD>play on insert, and machine was rebooted. After inserting a DVD I get the "Please select file to play" box. If I pick a chapter then select play, I get the errors noted by 'meat. No biggie though...yet . Does MC get along better with WinDVD? Isn't that what your using?

10^-27

[JimH]

I have only ATI Multimedia Center installed right now, but I have had Power DVD and it didn't cause a problem.

Try finding out why Power DVD is starting automatically.  Take a look at the file assocations.  I think there are two file types on the DVD.  VOB and T-something.

[xen-uno]

Jim,

P-DVD is behaving correctly. After disabling Autoplay DVD from it's options, it no longer autostarts upon DVD insertion. But neither does MC (doesn't autostart). Once it is open, and I insert a DVD, the sequence of events is of that mentioned in my previous post. Usually, in my experience, the "Please select file to play" error means that MC is not communicating perfectly with the drive (the Sony).

10^-27

edit: File assoc's were OK (reset back to P-DVD control). Interestingly enough, my vid card (NVidia Riva TNT2 M64 w/ 32 MB mem) fails most of the tests when the P-DVD diagnostics are run, yet DVD playback is flawless through it.

[DocLotus]

DVD's play for me with MC 9.1.228 but they often freeze after playing for a few minutes.  The only way I can un freeze it is to bring up Windows Task Manager & close out MC which causes an MC error.

Also. there are not very many contols with MC when playing a DVD like there is in most other DVD programs.  Would love it if MC had a lot of neat DVD controls as I really want to use MC for all of my multimedia.

[Shelly]

I've been able to play DVDs on my desktop for the past couple of builds, although, I still prefer P-DVD for the reasons mentioned by DocLotus.  I'm still unable to use MC to play DVDs on my Thinkpad, which has WinDVD rather than P-DVD.

Shelly

Edit:
Missed one not so minor detail:  I have no audio when playing a DVD on my desktop in the present build.

[Robert Taylor]

Just plonked 9.1.228 on and DVD playback now works quite nicely.

Jolly good show chaps!

[phelt]

Yes, with .228 DVD playback finally works for me as well  

Still some fit and finish to be done, but it's quite nice to have the potential fulfilled. One step closer to shedding the panoply of programs for media...